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Location:
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Covelo, California
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Accident Number:
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WPR22LA031
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Date & Time:
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October 28, 2021, 12:00 Local
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Registration:
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N27TK
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Aircraft:
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Bell 206L-3
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Defining Event:
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Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
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Injuries:
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4 None
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Flight Conducted Under:
Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation
Analysis
The pilot of the helicopter reported that, he was conducting a local area photography/video flight with passengers. Before departure he had removed the doors and provided a preflight safety briefing, which included briefing his passengers on securing their belongings. While in cruise flight, a passenger’s jacked departed the helicopter and became lodged on the synchronized elevator. The pilot simultaneously felt an impact and noted resistance against the cyclic control. A precautionary landing was made without further incident. The tail rotor drive shaft was substantially damaged.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: A passenger’s unsecured object departed the cabin resulted in a collision with the tail rotor drive shaft.
Findings
Personnel issues - Understanding/comprehension - Passenger
Environmental issues - Debris/dirt/foreign object - Contributed to outcome
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Enroute - Cabin safety event
Enroute-cruise - Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor; Private
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Age:
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29,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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None
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Class 1 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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June 20, 2021
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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September 22, 2021
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Flight Time:
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1701 hours (Total, all aircraft), 87 hours (Total, this make and model), 88 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 47 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Passenger Information
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Certificate:
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Age:
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Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Toxicology Performed:
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Medical Certification:
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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Flight Time:
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Passenger Information
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Certificate:
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Age:
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Female
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Toxicology Performed:
|
|
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Medical Certification:
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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Flight Time:
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Passenger Information
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Certificate:
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Age:
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Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Restraint Used:
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4-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Second Pilot Present:
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No
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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Flight Time:
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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Bell
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Registration:
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N27TK
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Model/Series:
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206L-3 NO SERIES
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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1985
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Amateur Built:
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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51138
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Skid
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Seats:
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7
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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July 8, 2021 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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4150 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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45.4 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Turbo shaft
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Airframe Total Time:
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14046 Hrs at time of accident
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Rolls Royce
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ELT:
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C126 installed, not activated
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Engine Model/Series:
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C250-030P
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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650 Horsepower
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Operator:
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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Rotorcraft external load (133), On-demand air taxi (135), Commercial air tour (136), Certificate of authorization or waiver (COA)
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KUKI,626 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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40 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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11:56 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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176°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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/ Turbulence Type
Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.18 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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19°C / 12°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Ukiah, CA (UKI)
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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Company VFR
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Destination:
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Covelo, CA
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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11:40 Local
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Type of Airspace:
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Class E
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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UKIAH MUNI UKI
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Runway Surface Type:
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Airport Elevation:
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616 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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Forced landing
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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1 None
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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3 None
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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4 None
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Latitude, Longitude:
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39.7905,-123.26633(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Cornejo, Tealeye
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Dennis Thorpe; Federal Aviation Administration; Oakland, CA
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Original Publish Date:
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May 4, 2022 Investigation Class:
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4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104227
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